My personal feeling on the Wii U's lineup is not that it has no games, but it has no INTERESTING games. There's far too many rehashy games like NSMBU, 3D World, and Tropical Freeze out there that neither demonstrate next gen gameplay with the Gamepad, or any new, interesting gameplay mechanic whatsoever. When I see more games like say, Sunshine and Galaxy (note, I do not mean make Sunshine 2 and Galaxy 3, I mean make an original game concept that shows the unique, innovative gameplay for the Wii U in the same way that Sunshine and Galaxy did for the Gamecube and Wii respectively) over NSMBU and 3D World, then I'd be willing to buy a Wii U.

I think you nailed it. For all the hype Reggie and Co. spewed about the game pad revolutionizing the way we play games, I'm still yet to see it. I've said it many times... Nintendo Land showed signs of awesome possibilities, and then... nothing. Standard remakes of games we've already all seen and played over the last ten years. Plus, it's kind of sad that the two games this system's life is basically swiveling on at this point, SSB and MK8 are going to be standard iterations of Nintendo franchises we've seen for almost twenty years. I'm sure they will be great fun, but how much can either of those titles really utilize the game pad?

My suspicions were just confirmed in the Mario Kart 8 preview article. The gamepad utilization = a horn. That's right, the giant touch-screen controller Nintendo claimed would be "revolutionary" for gaming... It's only real purpose in Mario Kart 8 is to honk the horn.

To be fair, Nintendo blatantly admitted it needed more use of that a while ago, but I assume Mario Kart was too far along in development to put too much in (especially since they can't afford more delays).

I don't disagree, but they're putting in the DS map stuff among other things and you can use it like the Wii Wheel. That's all you really need. The fact that Nintendo has underplayed their own gimmick controller doesn't mean I really want a ton of ideas in Mario Kart. Only real disappointment is no 5 player local multiplayer apparently.

How about a rear-view mirror for laying down bananas and what not? That would have been amazing.

How about a rear-view mirror for laying down bananas and what not? That would have been amazing.

A feature, much like 5-player, that was in the launch title Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. (Come on, Nintendo EAD Group No. 1.)

I'll be honest I haven't touched a Sonic associated title since the Dreamcast days, but I keep hearing more and more good things about the Sonic racing games. Not...sure...I can get over my grudge with Sega yet.

My personal feeling on the Wii U's lineup is not that it has no games, but it has no INTERESTING games. There's far too many rehashy games like NSMBU, 3D World, and Tropical Freeze out there that neither demonstrate next gen gameplay with the Gamepad, or any new, interesting gameplay mechanic whatsoever. When I see more games like say, Sunshine and Galaxy (note, I do not mean make Sunshine 2 and Galaxy 3, I mean make an original game concept that shows the unique, innovative gameplay for the Wii U in the same way that Sunshine and Galaxy did for the Gamecube and Wii respectively) over NSMBU and 3D World, then I'd be willing to buy a Wii U.

I think you nailed it. For all the hype Reggie and Co. spewed about the game pad revolutionizing the way we play games, I'm still yet to see it. I've said it many times... Nintendo Land showed signs of awesome possibilities, and then... nothing. Standard remakes of games we've already all seen and played over the last ten years. Plus, it's kind of sad that the two games this system's life is basically swiveling on at this point, SSB and MK8 are going to be standard iterations of Nintendo franchises we've seen for almost twenty years. I'm sure they will be great fun, but how much can either of those titles really utilize the game pad?

My suspicions were just confirmed in the Mario Kart 8 preview article. The gamepad utilization = a horn. That's right, the giant touch-screen controller Nintendo claimed would be "revolutionary" for gaming... It's only real purpose in Mario Kart 8 is to honk the horn.

To be fair, Nintendo blatantly admitted it needed more use of that a while ago, but I assume Mario Kart was too far along in development to put too much in (especially since they can't afford more delays).

I don't disagree, but they're putting in the DS map stuff among other things and you can use it like the Wii Wheel. That's all you really need. The fact that Nintendo has underplayed their own gimmick controller doesn't mean I really want a ton of ideas in Mario Kart. Only real disappointment is no 5 player local multiplayer apparently.

They could of at least used the gamepad's screen as a rear view mirror me thinks.

Currently Playing: 3D Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master!
We shall swim to Bubble Island, or you will suffer the wrath of my Trident Laser!
80s FANATIC & King of NES Tekkidome!

My personal feeling on the Wii U's lineup is not that it has no games, but it has no INTERESTING games. There's far too many rehashy games like NSMBU, 3D World, and Tropical Freeze out there that neither demonstrate next gen gameplay with the Gamepad, or any new, interesting gameplay mechanic whatsoever. When I see more games like say, Sunshine and Galaxy (note, I do not mean make Sunshine 2 and Galaxy 3, I mean make an original game concept that shows the unique, innovative gameplay for the Wii U in the same way that Sunshine and Galaxy did for the Gamecube and Wii respectively) over NSMBU and 3D World, then I'd be willing to buy a Wii U.

I think you nailed it. For all the hype Reggie and Co. spewed about the game pad revolutionizing the way we play games, I'm still yet to see it. I've said it many times... Nintendo Land showed signs of awesome possibilities, and then... nothing. Standard remakes of games we've already all seen and played over the last ten years. Plus, it's kind of sad that the two games this system's life is basically swiveling on at this point, SSB and MK8 are going to be standard iterations of Nintendo franchises we've seen for almost twenty years. I'm sure they will be great fun, but how much can either of those titles really utilize the game pad?

My suspicions were just confirmed in the Mario Kart 8 preview article. The gamepad utilization = a horn. That's right, the giant touch-screen controller Nintendo claimed would be "revolutionary" for gaming... It's only real purpose in Mario Kart 8 is to honk the horn.

To be fair, Nintendo blatantly admitted it needed more use of that a while ago, but I assume Mario Kart was too far along in development to put too much in (especially since they can't afford more delays).

I don't disagree, but they're putting in the DS map stuff among other things and you can use it like the Wii Wheel. That's all you really need. The fact that Nintendo has underplayed their own gimmick controller doesn't mean I really want a ton of ideas in Mario Kart. Only real disappointment is no 5 player local multiplayer apparently.

They could of at least used the gamepad's screen as a rear view mirror me thinks.

My personal feeling on the Wii U's lineup is not that it has no games, but it has no INTERESTING games. There's far too many rehashy games like NSMBU, 3D World, and Tropical Freeze out there that neither demonstrate next gen gameplay with the Gamepad, or any new, interesting gameplay mechanic whatsoever. When I see more games like say, Sunshine and Galaxy (note, I do not mean make Sunshine 2 and Galaxy 3, I mean make an original game concept that shows the unique, innovative gameplay for the Wii U in the same way that Sunshine and Galaxy did for the Gamecube and Wii respectively) over NSMBU and 3D World, then I'd be willing to buy a Wii U.

I think you nailed it. For all the hype Reggie and Co. spewed about the game pad revolutionizing the way we play games, I'm still yet to see it. I've said it many times... Nintendo Land showed signs of awesome possibilities, and then... nothing. Standard remakes of games we've already all seen and played over the last ten years. Plus, it's kind of sad that the two games this system's life is basically swiveling on at this point, SSB and MK8 are going to be standard iterations of Nintendo franchises we've seen for almost twenty years. I'm sure they will be great fun, but how much can either of those titles really utilize the game pad?

My suspicions were just confirmed in the Mario Kart 8 preview article. The gamepad utilization = a horn. That's right, the giant touch-screen controller Nintendo claimed would be "revolutionary" for gaming... It's only real purpose in Mario Kart 8 is to honk the horn.

To be fair, Nintendo blatantly admitted it needed more use of that a while ago, but I assume Mario Kart was too far along in development to put too much in (especially since they can't afford more delays).

I don't disagree, but they're putting in the DS map stuff among other things and you can use it like the Wii Wheel. That's all you really need. The fact that Nintendo has underplayed their own gimmick controller doesn't mean I really want a ton of ideas in Mario Kart. Only real disappointment is no 5 player local multiplayer apparently.

They could of at least used the gamepad's screen as a rear view mirror me thinks.

Way to not read any of the last comments.

Skimming's my middle name.

Currently Playing: 3D Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master!
We shall swim to Bubble Island, or you will suffer the wrath of my Trident Laser!
80s FANATIC & King of NES Tekkidome!

My suspicions were just confirmed in the Mario Kart 8 preview article. The gamepad utilization = a horn. That's right, the giant touch-screen controller Nintendo claimed would be "revolutionary" for gaming... It's only real purpose in Mario Kart 8 is to honk the horn.

Well other than off-TV play, a leaderboard, motion control and a mini-map. Yeah, just a horn. Kinda annoyed that people for some reason really, really wanted a rear-view mirror. Why? What do you get out if it? They had way back it in Super Mario Kart but you never used it because it was useless.

The only good idea I've heard people want that's not happening is 5 player multi. Personally that's something I'd like to see but I'm happy to give up if it means solid framerates. The fact that this game runs at 60fps with 2P means that I probably won't want to go out of 2P mode anyways

This may sound petty, but a lack of five-player multiplayer is really a deal breaker for me. I personally find it astounding that one of my favourite features of the gamepad - that it provides a fifth player slot - has been largely ignored by every first-party game other than Nintendo Land. I had foolishly assumed that it would be included, but at least this means one less game I'll feel the need to purchase...

I don't get the outcry for 5 player multiplayer. In NintendoLand, it makes sense to me, but Mario Kart just seems like it'd be a bit weird like that. I dunno...

Also, the GamePad doesn't need to be 100% utilized in every single game. Games like Metroid, Zelda, or a new and innovative Mario game will more than likely take the ZombiU approach to the GamePad. A rearview mirror in Mario Kart would essentially be pointless since there's already the map on the touchscreen. Aside from that, why do you need it to throw bananas back? Hold onto that banana. It'll save you from EVERYTHING.

Most of the people who complain about the lack of game pad use are people who don't like the game pad and never even used it in the dozens of games that use it a lot. I was playing Lego City Undercover, some Zombi U, Mass Effect 3, then Rayman Legends all in one day so I guess I didn't think the game pad was under utilized in any way when I played yesterday or any day.

@SuperChutney So you're going to pass on the game for lacking one non-essential feature? Well look since it's your money, it's not my place to tell you what you should and shouldn't buy but I'm just saying, I was hoping the first person view from Mario Kart 7 would return but was very disappointed that its absent this time around. Still getting it though because the gameplay and amount of things they are adding in and doing more then makes up for it.

Does everyone who is whining about no 5 player MK8 really find themselves in situations where they have an opportunity to play a Wii-U with four other people that often?

Unless you are a kid/live in a dorm/have parents who bred like rabbits, I can't imagine it would be a feature many people would even experience.

I am not going to say it isn't a nice feature but I agree with @JohnRedcorn are people really not going to buy something because it is missing 1 feature they never said was going to be in the game? I would like to have the option of 5 players on 1 system but it isn't that bad, plus they might still allow for 1 player to be on the GamePad and 1 on the TV, just not 5 players total.

...in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! it is possible to play via Local Area Network (LAN), using up to eight Nintendo GameCube systems [...] This means that up to eight users can play independently with their friends using two or more GameCube systems with the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! game discs on.

While this in no way contradicts @JohnRedcorn 's thesis, I feel it's within bounds to expect the Mario Kart series to evolve beyond the 4-player tradition. Expanded support for local play would be desirable in tournaments at least, if not in other venues as well.